Dear fellow swimmers

Tips from an ice swimmer

Last Thursday we held our most popular subscriber event yet. Stephen Gould joined us on Zoom to talk about ice swimming. We filled all 100 places and had a further 10 people on the waiting list. Sorry if you wanted to join in and missed out, but we will put the recording on YouTube at some point and share the link. A few tips we picked up...

• The more frequently you swim in cold water, the easier it gets. Stephen recommends at least three cold swims per week.
• An ice mile is an extreme swim, even for experienced cold water swimmers. Treat it with utmost respect.
• Temporary nerve damage is a real risk from longer swims in cold water. Your fingers and toes may take weeks to recover.
• It's hard to get swim fit (e.g. for races) with cold water swimming. Ideally combine your cold water practice with fitness training in warmer water.
• If you're just after the benefits of cold immersion, you get them in first couple of minutes. Pushing your time limit in cold water could be harmful.

Please keep an eye on your email for future subscriber events. We're planning sessions on swimming into your 50s, 60s and beyond, and mental preparation for swim challenges early next year.

Winter Swimming Refresher

On 10 January, we're also doing a 3.5-hour intensive 'Winter Swimming Refresher' via Zoom to help get you through the coldest months of the year. This is an essential reminder on the benefits of winter swimming as well has how to stay safe and have fun. It's suitable for those of your swimming through winter for the first time or thinking of starting in the new year.

Elsewhere in The Dip, we review the best waterproof bone-conduction headphones for swimmers, report on a new record for a 45km circumnavigation of Hong Kong Island and have not one but two great competitions for you to enter. Plus, plan your Boxing Day dunk with our Festive Dip List 2025, 
 

Happy swimming!
 

Simon Griffiths

Founder & Publisher, Outdoor Swimmer magazine

PS. To put your brand in front of 40,000 swimmers, please email stuart@outdoorswimmer.com

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Waterproof headphones for swimmers 
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Personal trainer Liz Lowes shares the second part of her shoulder rehabilitation guide.

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We’re offering you the chance to win £500 off a Zest Life Yoga & Wild Swimming Retreat (May-Sep 2026). Choose from Anglesey or the Lake District.

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PLUS

• NEWS: Waris Mills sets new HK360 record
• COLD WATER SWIMMING: The Festive Dip List 2025
   

*All premium content on our website is published in Outdoor Swimmer magazine in print. Print subscribers also get free digital access to all our back issues via Pocketmags. 

Please note: you receive the same stories and articles whichever option you choose.

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